Clinton Hands Obama Baton For Final Lap

Tonight Obama gets to run the final lap in the race which will determine what kind of a nation we want.

[Black Star News Editorial]

Between Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Elizabeth Warren voters this weekwere reminded about the stark differences between the Democratic andRepublican parties.

The Democrats are the party of hope,inclusion, diversity, dreams and possibilities: while the Republicansduring their Convention last week decided to peddle hate, divisions,fears, race-baiting and exclusivity.

Whereas the theme at thisyear's Democratic party convention in North Carolina has been how tocontinue building a new and better America the Republicans speak of "taking back our country" -- a return to the Good ole days.

That's the America that some members of the Tea Party still dream about. The America where it took federal troops to help integrate the schools anddiners and public transportation system. The America where it took aVoting Rights Amendment to empower Black people at the ballot boxes. Voting rights that Republicans are working furiously to reverse by eliminating early voting and imposing new voter identification requirements.

Sadly, race baiting has been embraced at the top of the Republican Party withMitt Romney during his own convention nomination acceptance speechclaiming it "takes an American" to accomplish great feats. Following his recent malicious statement in Michigan that no one asks him for his"birth certificate" it's clear who Romney was trying to reach with hisugly message.

Contrast the Republicans' message with what we've heard so far from the Democrats at their convention.

Democrats spoke about how women must continue to make reproductivehealth rights decisions themselves; unlike the Republicans who, led byRep. Ryan and Rep. Todd Akin, had sponsored a bill barring abortionfunding except in cases of "forcible" rape, a term Akin later possiblyclarified as "legitimate rape."

Democrats want humaneimmigration reform so the nation's new comers don't live in constantfear and become integrated into the nation's productive workforce; Romney has opposed The Dream Act and spoken in the past about "self" deportation for those who are already here.

Democrats speak of government continuing to work with the private sector to accelerate economic recovery, while Republicans have been parading individuals who boast of proudly "building it" all by themselves; including presumably the roads, airports and communication systems that lead products to market.

Democratsfought for the healthcare bill while Republicans vow to repeal it asmission number one, even though: seniors now enjoy benefits such asmedication coverage to ensure that there's no longer a gap in the amount paid for by insurers; people under 26 can remain on theirparents' coverage; and Americans are enjoying refunds from insurers.

Democrats know that huge deficits are a threat to the nation's long-term economic health and, as Clinton noted, Obama agrees that for everydollar in new revenue there should be a $2.5 reduction in the deficit -- Democrats don't believe deficit reduction should come at the expense of middle class and low income Americans as will inevitably happen ifRomney's and Ryan's tax cuts for the wealthy plan is enacted.

Clinton also last night brilliantly debunked three of Romney's and Ryan'scardinal lies: about welfare reform; Medicare; and the stimulus program.

Romney and Ryan have been running around telling voters thatPresident Obama "robbed" $716 billion from Medicare to fund Obama Care.

Clinton exposed this falsehood and distortion of the facts. Obama reduced theproposed payments to insurance companies going forward so that thesavings can go into programs such as filling the donut hole; the difference in seniors' medical bills that aren't currently covered. Moreover, the Obama savings extends the life of Medicare by eight moreyears.

Clinton noted that Rep. Ryan also has the same $716billion saving in his own budget proposal. As Clinton says: ittakes a lot of brass (read "balls") for Ryan to accuse someone of doingthe same thing he's done.

Clinton demolished the lie thatPresident Obama eliminated the work requirement for welfare recipients.Romney and Ryan have been running ads, featuring White working people,while claiming that welfare recipients no longer have to work to receive their checks.

This is Romney's own version of Ronald Reagan'sinfamous Cadillac-driving Black welfare Queens. The hope is to enrageWhite voters, with malicious and false advertisement, into voting forRomney. Race baiting at its most ugly form.

Romney approved the advertisement. He's not a fool; he endorsed the blatant race baiting. Talk about lack of character.

Clinton remindedviewers that after state governors approached the Obama Administrationand asked for some flexibility in designing their welfare programs inlight of high unemployment, permission was granted provided the netoutcome would be 20% more employment -- not "less work", or "no work."

Clinton also reminded the nation of the benefits of job-creating stimulus programs, something Republicans religiously oppose.

Since coming to office the Obama Administration has now created 4.5 millionnew jobs; contrast this with the 400,000 to 700,000 jobs that were being shed a month when the president took office in January 2009 a legacy of the George W. Bush great recession.

While Romney famously declared "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" in a New York TimesOp-Ed, the Obama Administration's auto-industry bail out created morethan 250,000 jobs that would not exist today.

President BarackObama accepted the baton when he embraced Clinton on stage last night.Tonight he gets to run the final lap in the race which will determinewhat kind of a nation we want.

The America of today and tomorrow; or the America of Romney's and Ryan's fathers of the 1950s.